Endalkachew Demmisse2015-03-03T15:34:35-05:00Endalkachew Demmissehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/author/index.php?author=endalkachew-demmisseCopyright 2008, HuffingtonPost.com, Inc.HuffingtonPost Blogger Feed for Endalkachew DemmisseGood old fashioned elbow grease.The 50th Anniversary of the AU: Time to Recommit to the Promises of Abujatag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.33173562013-05-22T16:46:29-04:002013-07-22T05:12:02-04:00Endalkachew Demmissehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/endalkachew-demmisse/"I do believe that a new Africa is unfolding before our eyes. The African Renaissance is now at hand. It is within reach. It is embedded within the honest and seeking minds of the young, the professionals, the activists, the believers in our continent."

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
President of Liberia

The past decade has seen remarkable transformations across the African continent--an expression of hard earned progress and promise even in the midst of a global financial crisis. This is an era of unprecedented economic growth, socially sustainable gains and strong African leadership. Today, almost every country in Africa has a success story to tell, and Africa's prospects have never looked brighter. The continent is realizing its potential and improving the lives of its people.

Yet despite promising progress, challenges remain implementing previous African Union decisions and declarations on health. As Africa's leaders gather in Ethiopia to celebrate the African Union's 50 year anniversary, this is a strategic point for citizens to urge leaders to recommit to key health commitments, especially the Millennium Development Goals and the 2001 Abuja Declaration.

In September 2000, 189 heads of state adopted the Millennium Declaration, designed to improve social and economic conditions in the world's poorest countries by 2015. Subsequently, a set of eight goals were devised, drawing on the Millennium Declaration, as a way of tracking progress. Three of these relate specifically to health; two more have health components. In April 2001, heads of state of African Union countries met in Abuja and set a target of allocating at least 15% of their annual budget to improve the health sector, and urged donor countries to scale up support. Despite tremendous progress fighting AIDS, TB, malaria, reproductive health, maternal and child mortality, and human resources for health, most AU countries are not on track to achieve the health MDGs. Part of the explanation is a lack of financial resources, as many nations are challenged to raise adequate funds to provide quality services that deliver results. This was a problem the Abuja Declaration was supposed to address.

According to the World Health Organization, 27 countries have increased the proportion of total government expenditures allocated to health since 2001. Seven countries reduced their relative contributions of government expenditures to health during the period. In the other twelve countries, there is no obvious trend upwards or downwards. Meanwhile, six countries: Rwanda, Botswana, Niger, Malawi, Zambia and Burkina Faso have passed the 15% mark. This achievement has been the result of the hard work of governments, health care providers, and communities all over the continent over the last decade. And African leaders must show their commitment by bridging the resource gap with strong political leadership, leveraging the strong economic growth, and by adopting innovative funding opportunities. These include meeting the Abuja target of investing 15% of government resources in health.

At this AU Summit, not only advocates but every African must demand that unmet health MDGs are prioritized in the report of leaders on the post-2015 Development Agenda. The 50th anniversary meeting in Addis Ababa is a pivotal time to remind our leaders about their commitments.

The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Margaret Chan, pointed out last year that as external funding for Africa's health declines, the commitment of domestic funds for health and their wise use are critical. Many donors are in doubt whether African leaders have actually committed themselves to the Declaration. Governments must demonstrate dedication to health by devoting an increasing share of their own resources to the health sector. In 2008, Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu stated The African Union Abuja 15% pledge is one of the most important commitments African leaders have made to health development and financing, and our leaders should strive to meet this pledge before another 10 years pass.]]>A Call for History Makerstag:www.huffingtonpost.com,2013:/theblog//3.31100222013-04-18T12:17:45-04:002013-06-18T05:12:02-04:00Endalkachew Demmissehttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/endalkachew-demmisse/
Our world can be a safe place to her inhabitants, but only if we win the fight against epidemics, which have showed time and again throughout history to be one of the greatest threats to our global brothers and sisters. Epidemics like the black plague, smallpox, measles and today, AIDS, TB and malaria have dealt devastating impacts for human kind.

Can you imagine if there weren't scientists, committed political leaders or health professionals standing in the gap during these challenging times? My existence would have been threatened without these heroes. They have given us tools through modern science, political will and effective partnerships like the Global Fund, to make staggering advances in global health in the short space of just over a decade.

In developing countries, HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria continue to kill at an alarming rate, more effectively than war. These major global health threats cause substantial morbidity, mortality, negative socioeconomic impact, and human suffering. Disease-specific interventions have had a considerable impact on improving health systems. However, we still need more resources, more research and attention from the global community to get tangible results on prevention, treatment and patient care. It's time for the Big Push to defeat these diseases and we need champions and heroes now more than ever.

During the time of my fight against MDR-TB, we faced dramatic challenges, but now because of the effective interventions financed by the Global Fund and its partners, people can have a chance to get the medications freely. The Global Fund stands between life and death of millions and needs donors' commitment for increased and sustained funding.

This is my call -- from a poor nation to history makers -- to be the generation who can change the course of history. Let's march mercilessly against TB, HIV and malaria. In an age of vaccines, antibiotics and dramatic scientific progress, these diseases can be brought under control.

This post is part of a series produced by The Huffington Post, The Global Fund, and its partners as part of The Big Push campaign. For more information on The Global Fund, click here. To read more posts about The Big Push -- The Global Fund and its partners efforts to eradicate HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis -- click here.]]>